Asisa Joventut and Barça will face each other this Sunday at 19:00 with the first ACB title of the season on the line. It will be the second final between the two teams, forty years after their first meeting in 1987. In that edition, played as a single game without semifinals, Barça’s team featuring Epi, Jiménez and Sibilio prevailed 91-86.
The Catalan derby had only been played once before in the Supercopa Endesa. It came in the 2022 semifinals, when Barça also prevailed, winning 91-74. On that occasion, Nico Laprovittola was wearing the blaugrana jersey and set the record for three-pointers in a Supercopa game with seven. The Argentine decided the game with a 15-point third quarter, scoring more than the Penya did as a team.
Asisa Joventut or Barça will become the fourth different Supercopa Endesa champion in the last four years.
This final guarantees a different champion from the last three editions. Real Madrid in 2023, Unicaja in 2024 and Valencia Basket in 2025 will make way for Asisa Joventut or Barça in 2026.
If the green-and-black side wins the title, it will be the third Supercopa Endesa in their trophy cabinet. Barça, meanwhile, have won the competition six times.
Penya return to the final
Asisa Joventut played three consecutive finals, in the single-game editions between 1985 and 1987, winning the first two. Curiously, however, they had never advanced beyond the semifinals (0/3). Dani Miret’s team will also face the host curse on Sunday. The team hosting the Supercopa Endesa has NEVER managed to lift the trophy. The last host to reach the final was Gran Canaria in 2017.
Penya head into the game after a spectacular performance from Nico Laprovittola, who marked the start of his second spell in Badalona with a 27-point, 10-assist performance. Ricky Rubio provided excellent support with 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.
Barça looking to reclaim the Supercopa Endesa
Barça have the opportunity to end their three-year trophy drought and win the Supercopa Endesa for the first time since 2015. In that edition, they defeated hosts Unicaja in the final.
It will be the 15th final for the blaugrana side, who, after winning their semifinal, remain unbeaten against Valencia Basket: 5-0 in the competition.
Aleksander Sekulic’s revamped team, featuring eleven new faces, have flexed their muscles in Badalona, displaying the energy of their young roster. Barça have also set the record for rebounds in a Supercopa Endesa game: 51.
Olivier Nkamhoua (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Tyrese Martin (10+11) both finished with double-doubles. There could have been three players to achieve the feat, as Josh Nebo was at 10+8 when he was ejected after committing two unsportsmanlike fouls.
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